Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-16
'Tou are pret'.., child, and you are tall
TCoNCLUDED.l

'You are prst'.., child, and you are tall"
az am past l6."
what color is your hair"
at is light brown. My eyes are blue"
IAN this time her busy, sensitive fingers
were passing lightly over my face.
Your name is Pleasance. Your father
John Huntspill tells me, was ships car
penter. Your guardian, one Daniel Guilt
yer, has gone to sea, and you were left
alone. My son William has fallen in love
with Won. You are betrothed to each
other without the formality of asking my
consent. 1t was wrong in my son.
trust, my dear, that what / see Of You will
induce me to grant that consent. We
have time before us, during which we may
do the best to learn each others ways and
character. Be sure that in all you do l
shall be always watching you, blind as l
am. You may kiss me, Pleasance-
kissed her fingers, but she drew me to
herself and kissed my forehead. Pres
emily, to my distress, John Huntspil went
away, and was left alone with madam.
She began by asking me how l used to
spend my days. what used to read, Of
what character were my religious oppor-
tunitieS, and other questions designed to
bring out exactly what / knew and how
thought Then sine told me that John
Huntspill had prepared report OF my
general ignorance, for which care would be
Immediately taken. She informed me,
ferther, that o skillful governess, aided by
all kinds of masters, would begin their
labors with me the very next morning.
She ended in her stately way:
william did not wait for my consent,
nor did you know, perhaps, that 1t Is IN
becoming of maiden to engage herself
without that consent. Nevertheless,
should you be diligent and prove yourself
possessed OF the aptitude and the qualities
which De helieves TO be 10 you, that con-
sent witfSnot he withheld. Understand
me, Pleasance, William is Of age, and in
two years time or so will be called upon
to assume the chief command of this great
firm. He can marry without my consent,
if he wishes. For your own happiness,
and in obedience to the Fifth Command
ment, you will study to obtain my ap-
prevail do not deny that / could have
wished-yes, that most strongly wished
my son to form an alliance with one Of
gentle birth You must try tn remove
this disappointment"
Then my new manner of life began. 10
was, indeed, different from the old.
Every morning praeticed for two hours
on the PianOtOrte, or harpsichord, as
madam called it. After breakfast came
the masters. There wac M. Ellie Lsmoine,
master of dancing and department-he WAS
nv favorite, because / took 10 dancing
al n
refugee French lady, Of eOurtly manners,
to teach me French; one Of the clerks, an
elderly man with 3 wife and large family,
permitted to increase bis income by giving
me lessons in writing; and professor Of
eloeution, who taught me to read with pro-
priety.
With all this work before me, had lit
tie time to think about poor Will One
day, however, John Huntspill came to see
me, and requested that | would favor him
by walking in the square with him for q
few minutes.
He told me that madam was growing
anxious about her son, His story, to put
her of the scent, was that he was going TO
the West Indies. And the West Indian
mails had come in, but no letter naturally
enough, had arrived from VIII Campion.
Everything depends" be said, ION
there being no inquiry. / have, for my
own part. ascertained by q Portsmouth
correspondent, in whom can trust, that
Mr.. William in now at sea. Madam
would die Of shame we're she to learn the
truth. see nothing for il but to feign q
letter from him. have written it, and
propose to bring it tomorrow IS coming
from the office. 1t will doubtless be for
YOU to read it aloud. We are embarked
in q course Of falsehoOds; from one deceit
springs many. Far, far better had Mr..
William at once confessed his name and
position, and obtained, as be certainly
would have done, his msjesty's pardon for
o boyish escapade.
Yes, We were indeed embarked In
coure Of falsehoOd. Not one letter did We
write, but many-four every year. John
Huutspil wrote them, getting his discrip-
tiOns Of West India scenery from all sorts
of sources, avoiding heiSlands Of Jamaica,
Barbados and St Kits in which the
house had correspondents. Then he would
bring in his precious miSsive, announcing
calmly that maid was in from the West
Indies, bringing a letter for madam. Lady